please log in to view this image Good Morning. It's Monday 7th September, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road. Klopp warns his players against complacency Jurgen Klopp has warned his Liverpool superstars not to be complacent when the Whites come top town this Saturday for the opening game of the 2020/21 Premier league season. The experienced German Manager told his team players they must be ready because Leeds will pose a stern test on Saturday wth their high-pressing, intense style. “We have to make sure we get ready for the first game against Leeds because that will be a really tough one,” “Leeds have a specific style of play, man-marking over the whole pitch, and that makes it proper intense. “We have to be ready for that, but we have a few days. Hopefully all the other boys now stay healthy in the international games, then they come back and we have three days to work together on that.” please log in to view this image Barca offer Leeds a Brazilian What would you do if one of the largest and most successful football clubs in the World phones you up, and offered you a Brazilian? That is what has happened at Leeds. Barcelona have offered the services of Brazilian International Rafinha to Leeds for 16m Euro. Why? Rafinha and Leeds new boy Rodrigo are best friends! Just to thicken the plot, Rafinha's brother is Bayern Munich's highly rated Spanish International Thiago! Both brothers are keen for move to the Premiership, but only if the the other brother joins an English team! The talented midfielder has impressed whilst been out on loan at fellow La Liga club Celta Vigo. Whether or not Leeds are actually interested in the 27yo remains to be seen, but they have told the Catalan giants that they do not have the funds to complete Rafinha's transfer this window! please log in to view this image Gentleman's agreement in place regarding Gvardiol Croatian teenage sensation Josko Gvardiol will become a Leeds player after a gentleman's agreement between Dinamo Zagreb and Leeds Utd was put into place over the weekend. The highly rated 18yo will become the second big money move the Whites have made for a centre back this Summer, with German outfit SC Freiberg parting with German International Robin Koch for a bargain price of 13m. Media sources are claiming that 17.8m has been agreed between Leeds Utd and their Croatian counterparts. Leeds want to complete the deal at the earliest opportunity whilst sources at the Croatian club would like Gvardiol to help them through to the next round of the Champions League on the 16th of this month before making the move permanent! please log in to view this image Leeds turn their attention to Harry Wilson The Star are reporting that Leeds are leading the way to land Liverpool winger Harry Wilson. The versatile 23yo impressed during his loan at Bournemouth last term netting seven times including some spectacular set pieces. Newcastle and Southampton are also interested in Wilson's services but are not keen to go above 12.5m whereas it is believed Leeds will go to 15m. Liverpool are understood to be interested in the offer but will not make a decision until after Saturdays game against the Whites. It now seems that Ryan Kent has slipped down the pecking order with Leeds firmly turning their attention to the Welsh International! please log in to view this image
Morning all... De Paul wants to be the main playmaker, he wants guaranteed football, he has expressed a desire to remain in Italy. If we get him I fear it’s a disaster waiting to happen. Bielsa can’t handle these type of players, the ones that need delicate kid gloves. The minute he doesn’t put the shift in to be Bielsa fit, the cold winter nights of Yorkshire compared to Italy, being left out a team he will feel he should be first name down, being asked to cover the non playmaker role, I can’t see this is a match made in heaven. If a club offers you a player they don’t want, yes take him if you feel he’ll be a decent addition but take him for free or at least an absolute minimum. If Barca don’t want him then we’re doing them a favour no?
Good morning. If Rafinha will only come if his brother gets an English move I suppose we'll just have to buy Thiago as well. Is there much truth in the rumours that Leicester are after De Paul? It would be disappointing not to get him now but I have faith we'd manage to bring in someone else, not like the days where we'd miss our main target and bring in Luke Varney. It's a shame that we probably won't get to see our strongest side out until at least a few weeks into the season. I've always preferred the transfer market closing before the season kicks off.
Morning, Exhaustive and extensive research (well, five minutes on yt actually..), reveals that I’m not overly impressed with this rafinha character, nor have I really seen anyone give him many (any) great reviews? Sounds like we’d be taking him for the wrong reasons, so it’d be a no from me. Regarding Lynsey DP (nickname shamefacedly stolen from another poster on here..), I wonder if he’s doing himself no favours with all the posing? Is he coming across as a bit full of himself (like benrahma’s make puke holiday video?) and maybe a turn off for his Holyship (Bielsa) and why the deal may have cooled somewhat? Or just total bollocks and we’re still on point for signing him? Who knows eh? Not me that’s forshaw!
Morning all ristac if you click on every story about Rodrigo De Paul you learn crap. Yes he wants to play a big part in the team and as he would be the most expensive player at the club he would get that. He does also understand that Bielsa is boss and he does what hes told to do. He said he he has much to think about as he has to find school and move his family, not that he wants to stay in Italy. He is a quarter back who directs play, which is what we want him to do. one thing to think about if De Paul comes is the options Bielsa has because Rodrigo and De Paul can both play the QB role (10) they can both play left wing and Rodrigo can also play right wing. Its actually possible to have both and Bamford on the pitch at the same time as well as Pablo?
Forgive my slackness for not naming you with full credit in the first place. It had to be said though and I was thinking the same mesen. Great minds and all that?!
Don't think the weather will be a problem for him. Average winter temperatures only a couple of degrees colder than Udine. And I'm sure the £100k pw will help take away the chill
Rodrigo has a cousin called Refinah Alcantara who is the brother of a very good footballer. Barcelona signed Refinah to sweeten Thiago Alcantara but Refinah wasnt that good so was played in the Barca B team and loaned out never to play for the first team. Barca are cheeky twats and want to offload him so thought that Leeds would take him to keep Rodrigo happy. No way and Barcalono sold Thiago to Bayern Munich anyway the only club to make a bid for De Paul is Leeds. Fiorentino have asked about him but cant afford him so they took a creative midfielder on loan yesterday. Juve have no room and no cash anyway as all the cash was spent last season by Conte who was sacked recently so Pirlo the new manager who has never managed before is trying to clear the decks and sign players on freebies like Suarez. The top Italian clubs all have top creative midfielders so no Italian team has room for De Paul. De Paul is being sold as Pozzo has told everyone but where is he going? Leicester are now in the frame but no offer as yet. Not much money in Spain or France but maybe a German club? But so far only Leeds have made an offer and Bielsa is admired by De Paul, so live in hope. West Ham now need to keep fans on side after selling the kid at the weekend so are back in for Benrhama, Villa still trying for Watkins but can see the Brentford lads getting left behind at this rate because they both think they are worldies and deserve £100k per week and their club values them at £50m between them
As I mentioned earlier during lockdown we had a keeper issue brewing, which has now been resolved. Kamel Miazek and Will Huffer have both been released and U18 keeper Matthew Turner has been loaned out to Welsh League Aberystwyth Town where he will be first team keeper. This leaves Kiko, Meslier, Skerry, Caprille and the new Dutch kid
For the sake of argument we sign the Croatian kid. Do we play him straight away at LB or just have him waiting to replace Cooper as left side CB? I would play him at LB making it an easy transition to go 3 at the back if required. Douglas played well when he got the chance for the run in and has also played well in pre season, being used as the main dead ball taker. Do we sell or Keep?
